Jumping ship

[j.sabourn]

Think have put up previously but dont know where. My son one of his school mates before he left school at 16, was half French think his father was the frog. However the lad grew up in England and they spoke English at home and to all intents and purposes thought of himself as English. However after leaving school a year or so later he received word from the French Government to present himself before the appropriate military authority for future service in the armed forces , failure to do so and a warrant for his arrest would be issued on his being sighted on French Territory. He refused to go back and as far as I know has never set foot in France since that time. I think the French National service like the Norwegian went on a long time after Britain wound up theirs. In fact as far as I know may still be in force. JS

[Des Taff Jenkins]

John.
Got my call up papers in Capetown, on the way to New Zealand, I was quaking in my boots as they said I could be arrested if I didn't sign on.
Des

[j.sabourn]

#22 got my green registration form in 1955, still have , had to go to the mercantile marine office to get. At the time would have welcomed as couldn’t have been any worse off, but was chased as was exempt. As was someone else’s property. JS

[Bill Morrison]

If you were serving an apprenticeship or in higher education etc. You were exempt until you had completed it usually 21years old. I remember two lads who on the day they completed theirs, were packed and on their way to Rhodesia, didn't fancy two years serving Queen and Country after five years serving employer on very poor wages.

[j.sabourn]

Bill don’t know if asked you before ,did you know George Henderson in SML ? Lived in Aberdeen and was mate. Was an ex fishing skipper.JS.
The reason I ask was because he did his National Service apparently the fishing was not accepted as an excempt
Occupation. Instead of putting him in the navy they put him in the Black Watch. He was telling me that the 2 years turned into 4 years , the extra time was time in the glass house , he admitted he could not take the discipline and him and the drill sergeant did not see eye to eye . Apparently time in the glass house where he spent different lengths at different times did not count towards the 2 year service. Cheers JS.

[Dennis McGuckin]

I did my four year apprenticeship.Got my call up papers.Passed the physical*and went to be allocated to a branch of the Service.I asked for the Royal Navy.In military*fashion*I was told to join the Tank Regiment.I complained and said that I had a chance to go into the Merchant Navy.With that he said. Well we can't all be solders, off you go.Still can't believe my luck.

[Dennis McGuckin]

Follow up to that story.I had passed the physical*for National Serves A1.Had to go to London, from Coventry, for my MN medical.I had a cut in my hand*with a few stitches, they were due to be taken out in two days.The doctors for the MN would not pass me.They said. 'You are fit or you are not'.Sent me home again until*the stitches were out.No little expense*traveling*for me in those days.

[J Gowers]

I thought during the times on National Service when you got called up it was two years in the forces or if you opted for the MN you did five years. I served my apprenticeships as a mechanical fitter 1969-74 and a few of the journeymen had been in the Merchant Navy and they told me they did five years in the Merchant Navy as an option to National Service. I never knew if this was true or they were just telling stories.

[Patrick J Jones]

My younger brother left the Vindicatrix and joined the ss. Stratheden in 1949. I don't know how many trips he did, but left and applied for the (£10 assisted emigation) passage for Australia. He was promptly called up and drafted into the RAF, but didn't have any problem when he got a sailing date, and was allowed to leave.

[Doc Vernon]

I got exemption from South African National Service being in the Merchant Navy !
Cheers